UPDATE 10/11/2012

Rebecca Krone

Anoka, MN

Oct 11, 2012 — This is the response we received from the Halloween Commitee....."At this time we are unable to accept your application for the parade," the letter said. ‘We have reached our maximum for walking units. However, the application for the parade license was not submitted until 10/10/2012 — 15 days AFTER Justin's Gift was denied and told the parade was full. The application was submitted to the city of Anoka by Elizabeth McFarland who would not return a call seeking comment. Anoka Police Chief Philip Johanson said he is not aware of any official limits! Justin’s Gift application was submitted well within the application deadline date!Link to full Minnesota Public Radio at http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/10/news/anoka-halloween-parade-folo/

The Anoka Halloween committee finds itself in a dust-up for doing what it says it always does: reject groups that want to march in its annual parade. This year, though, officials' silence about why a group of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual kids were turned away has some questioning its selection criteria.